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Analysis of Vessel-Based Marine Accidents and the Economic Risks to Nigeria
Nwokedi Theophilus Chinonyerem,
Ibe Calistus,
Okeudo Geraldine,
Moses Ntor-Ue
Issue:
Volume 6, Issue 6, December 2017
Pages:
72-84
Received:
13 April 2017
Accepted:
25 April 2017
Published:
28 November 2017
Abstract: The aim of the study is to evaluate the economic loss of vessel-based marine accidents to Nigeria and the impact on marine transport sub-sector output and/or performance. Time series data of 30 years were gathered from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) statistical bulletin, the Nigeria insurance digest, the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) annual statistical report. The contribution of marine transport to the Gross Domestic Product (Y), shipping accident economic loss (X1), economic losses of offshore oil and gas (O&G) drilling accidents (X2), and marine oil spill accidents economic losses (X3) were obtained and used as the explanatory (independent) variables. The data was analyzed using multiple regression method with Y as the dependent variable. The hypotheses were tested using t-test. The findings of the study indicates that shipping accidents economic losses and economic losses of offshore oil and gas drilling accidents shows significant impact on the output of the marine transport sub-sector over the period covered by the study. The model expressing the quantitative relationship between GDPmarine transport (Y), shipping accidents economic loss (X1), economic loss of offshore oil and gas drilling accidents (X2) and marine oil spill accidents loss (X3) is: Y = 332156363.1 + 0.167X1 + 0.837X2 + 0.203X3 + e. it was recommended that investment in safety policies and standards be improved with greater focus in reducing accidents induced economic losses in shipping and offshore O&G drilling maritime operations.
Abstract: The aim of the study is to evaluate the economic loss of vessel-based marine accidents to Nigeria and the impact on marine transport sub-sector output and/or performance. Time series data of 30 years were gathered from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) statistical bulletin, the Nigeria insurance digest, the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Count...
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Long-Term Coral Community Stability in a Disturbed Marginal Reef in Kuwait
Shaker Hamza Alhazeem,
John A. Burt,
Adel Hasan Alsaffar,
Weizhong Chen,
Mohammad Abdulla Al-Kandari
Issue:
Volume 6, Issue 6, December 2017
Pages:
85-89
Received:
22 August 2017
Accepted:
16 October 2017
Published:
29 November 2017
Abstract: Coral reefs in Kuwait occur at high latitude (29 N) and in in extreme environmental conditions (SST range: 13°C to 32°C, annually), and have been subject to chronic anthropogenic pressure in recent decades (recurrent bleaching, oil spills, chronic recreational anchoring and diving impacts). We surveyed coral communities at six sites around Kubbar Island in 2015 and compared these to quantitative survey results collected at the same sites 31 years earlier (1984) as well as to results from several sites resurveyed a decade ago (2003) in order to characterize changes in coral community structure in this marginal reef environment. Mean coral cover was 25% in 2015 compared with 34% in 1984, but declines in coral cover were significant at only one site. The decline in coral cover at this single site was mainly due to a >80% loss of formerly dominant Acropora, and a concomitant shift towards a lower cover community dominated by massive corals. A total of 13 coral genera were observed across sites, comparable to the 12 observed in 1984 and the 13 observed in 2003. Overall, the results of this study indicate a high degree of long term stability in coral community structure in the marginal and heavily disturbed environment of northern Kuwait.
Abstract: Coral reefs in Kuwait occur at high latitude (29 N) and in in extreme environmental conditions (SST range: 13°C to 32°C, annually), and have been subject to chronic anthropogenic pressure in recent decades (recurrent bleaching, oil spills, chronic recreational anchoring and diving impacts). We surveyed coral communities at six sites around Kubbar I...
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Scenarios Framing the Water-Energy-Food Nexus Challenges in the Mediterranean Area
Rafael Rodriguez-Clemente
Issue:
Volume 6, Issue 6, December 2017
Pages:
90-97
Received:
5 October 2017
Accepted:
19 October 2017
Published:
29 November 2017
Abstract: The Euro-Mediterranean Conference on Research and Innovation held in Barcelona in April 2012 recognizes that that there are no alternatives to a deep collaboration between the European Union and its Southern and East Neighbors to cope with their common problems and set a new frame for the cooperation in science and innovation based in the co-design, co-finance and co-ownership of the results of the joint actions. The water-food-energy nexus is a challenge in the Mediterranean area where the effect of climate change and unintended consequences of policies seeking to solve one part of the nexus end up worsening another. A nexus oriented approach meaning integration, inclusion, trans-sectoral vision as well as innovation, which are the basic key to sustainability, is needed to understands the interlinkages and inter-dependencies across water, energy and food sectors through a holistic framework that explicitly defines interactions between systems and the effect one has on another. However, such interactions in the actual frame could be synergetics or antagonistic, and care must be taken to analyze the local circumstances in the handling of the three nexus components before defining possible actions with a nexus vision.
Abstract: The Euro-Mediterranean Conference on Research and Innovation held in Barcelona in April 2012 recognizes that that there are no alternatives to a deep collaboration between the European Union and its Southern and East Neighbors to cope with their common problems and set a new frame for the cooperation in science and innovation based in the co-design...
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Response of the Coral Associated Nitrogen Fixing Bacteria Toward Elevated Water Temperature
Issue:
Volume 6, Issue 6, December 2017
Pages:
98-109
Received:
9 October 2017
Accepted:
3 November 2017
Published:
29 November 2017
Abstract: Coral reefs are among the most biologically diverse and economically important ecosystem on the planet. Despite the importance, reef habitat is being under threat from human exploitation, and its most serious stressor is increasing seawater temperature, an aftermath of global warming phenomenon. The increasing seawater temperature causes bleaching, diseases and insufficiency of nutrients of corals. Despite being surrounded by ocean waters were nutrient are in short supply, the reef ecosystem is a significant source of new nitrogen. Biological nitrogen fixation is a significant internal source of marine organism. The growth of all organism lies on the availability of mineral nutrients particularly of nitrogen (N2). Approximately 80% of atmosphere is made of nitrogen, however, N2 can only be available for use by organism unless it undergoes a process of nitrogen fixation. In this aspect, related literature on biological nitrogen fixation seems sparse especially on the effects of increasing seawater temperature, a well-known contributing factor of coral bleaching. In this study, an investigation was conducted on nitrogen fixing bacterial communities associated in the coral Acropora digitifera, exploring its responses towards elevated water temperature. The study shows that exposure to high temperature causes a drastic change in the community of nitrogen fixing bacteria which are abundant in coral mucus. These changes, is correlated with the shift in the metabolic function in coral holobiont, thus, affecting both health and resiliency of corals. Overall, the finding highlights the impact of elevated seawater temperature on the nitrogen fixing bacterial composition and its diversity as well as its effects of this on host metabolism.
Abstract: Coral reefs are among the most biologically diverse and economically important ecosystem on the planet. Despite the importance, reef habitat is being under threat from human exploitation, and its most serious stressor is increasing seawater temperature, an aftermath of global warming phenomenon. The increasing seawater temperature causes bleaching,...
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